Home » Historic and Environmental Beacon: Morris Building on the Move
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Workers lay the foundation for the Morris building move

December 21, 2009

Thanks to the collaboration of a committed group of diverse and visionary people, the historic Morris Building is getting a new lease on life.  The 230 year old building will be moved from its current location to a Nova Scotia Power parking lot tonight: Monday December 21 some time after 6pm. 

The Charles Morris Building dates from the mid-1700s and was named for the home and office of the first Chief Surveyor of Nova Scotia and the man who set out the original plans for Halifax.  It has been lifted off its current foundation and moved to a Nova Scotia Power parking lot adjacent to the site before a final home is found.  “Once destined for the landfill, future prospects for this piece of living history are inspiring,” says Kim Thompson, Project Coordinator for the Built Environment at the Ecology Action Centre.

Details:

  • A three-year lease has been signed between Nova Scotia Power and the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia while a new site and next life are decided.
  • Ownership of the Morris Building has been transferred from Dexel Developments to the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia.
  • S Rushton Construction and House Moving Expert of Abercrombie, a family business from New Glasgow has been contracted to relocate the building crossing a parking lot owned by Merit House and operated by Impark.
  • Three HRM Councilors have made generous financial contributions to the project.

This project has brought together diverse stakeholders including: Dexel Developments, Nova Scotia Power (NSP), Pascal Holdings, Impark, HRM, the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia, and the Ecology Action Centre.  Special thanks go out to Robin McAdam of NSP, Louie and Peter Lawen of Dexel Developments, Harvey Meretski of Merit House, Councilors Dawn Sloane, Bob Harvey and Jennifer Watts of HRM, Maggie Holme of HRM, Leonard Prerya, MLA for Halifax-Citadel and numerous members of the Ecology Action Centre’s Built Environment Committee.

The Ecology Action Centre is involved in this project because of its links to built environment issues. Moving the Morris building will divert close to a hundred tons of construction and demolition (C&D) waste from Nova Scotia landfills. It also creates a real world example with which to encourage builders, developers and homeowners to explore opportunities to work with existing materials.  The EAC is currently developing a C&D toolkit full of resources to streamline alternatives to landfilling C&D material across the province.

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The Ecology Action Centre has acted as a voice for Nova Scotia's environment for over 37 years. The EAC has been voted #1 Activist Organization by readers of The Coast magazine for six years running. Since 1971, the EAC has been working to build a healthier, more sustainable Nova Scotia.

Ecology Action Centre
2705 Fern Lane
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Canada B3K 4L3

Phone: (902) 429-2202
Fax: (902) 405-3716
Email: info@ecologyaction.ca